(Left to right) BVI London Office Director Benito Wheatley, Ashley Kelly, Deputy Premier Kedrick Pickering, Kyron McMaster, Chantel Malone and BVI Athletics Association President Steve Augustine pose for a photo. Photo: Keneski Manning

Virgin Islands athletes who competed at the IAAF World Championships in London were honoured at BVI House during a reception on August 10.

Family, friends, students and government officials where in attendance to celebrate the performances of 400-metre hurdler Kyron McMaster, 400-metre sprinter Ashley Kelly and long jumper Chantel Malone.

(Left to right) BVI London Office Director Benito Wheatley, Ashley Kelly, Deputy Premier Kedrick Pickering, Kyron McMaster, Chantel Malone and BVI Athletics Association President Steve Augustine pose for a photo. Photo: Keneski Manning
Additionally, former BVI Olympic Committee president Rey O’Neal was honoured for his contributions to athletics in the territory, who earlier received a lifetime achievement award from IAAF.

Remarks were given by Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr. Kedrick Pickering, BVI Athletics Association President Steve Augustine, BVIOC President Ephraim Penn and BVI London Office Director Benito Wheatley.

In recognition of their achievements, the athletes and Mr. O’Neal were presented with a BVI London Office commemorative coin, emblazoned with the Vigilate crest and BVI House.

The athletes and Mr. O’Neal thanked the BVI community in London and their families and supporters at home for their support.

Earlier in the month, Mr. O’Neal was honoured by IAAF President Lord Sebastian Coe at the opening ceremony of the 51st IAAF Congress.

The IAAF Plaque of Merit was awarded to Mr. O’Neal for his 40-plus years of service to the world of track and field, particularly in the North America, Central America and Caribbean region.

“Mr. O’Neal has made enormous contributions to the success and the development of the sport of track and field,” according to a statement sent to this newspaper from the BVIAA.

Mr. O’Neal was one of the founding members of the BVI Amateur Athletic Association in 1970 and became president later that year, a stint that lasted until 1973. In 1978, he took office once more and retained the position until 2004 when he stepped down and Ephraim Penn took over the position.

In 1975, Rey O’Neal, along with Johnny Hassan led the first BVI delegation to compete in the Central American and Caribbean Athletics Championships in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The BVIAAA then gained international recognition as a member of the IAAF. At that time, except for softball, there were no other national sporting associations or federations affiliated to international governing bodies.

Over the years, Mr. O’Neal held several positions in track and field, first as a member of the CAC Technical Committee and for several years as a member and then chairman of the CAC Statistics Committee. Additionally, as a member of the IAAF Statisticians, O’Neal often functioned as a resource person for several regional Federations and helped to select the teams that would represent the Americas at the IAAF World Cup. He became the Vice-President of North America, Central America and the Caribbean (NACAC) Athletic Association in 1997 and held the position until he resigned in 2003.

Mr. O’Neal also served as a member of the Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Confederation Executive Committee for 19 years. He was chosen to lead the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Athletics Commission in 1991. In 2003, O’Neal was awarded the IAAF Veteran’s Pin and the following year was named to the CAC Hall of Fame.

Messrs. Augustine and Penn also attended the award ceremony.

“Given Mr. O’Neal’s many years of dedicated service to the sport of athletics, locally, regionally and internationally, I wholeheartedly join with the IAAF in recognizing his contributions on this grand-world-stage, who without debate, is truly deserving of this prestigious international award,” said Mr. Augustine.  “The BVIAA and wider athletics family is blessed to have Rey as a stalwart in our midst.”

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